occasional notes about random things

August 2013

19 August 2013

“What’s important is that you make the leap. Jump high and hard with intention and heart. Pay no mind to the vision that the commission made up. It’s up to you to make your life. Take what you have and stack it up like a tower of teetering blocks. Build your dream around that.”

Twenty-eight years ago this month, my mom, dad, two sisters and I embarked on a cross-country trip. We drove to a college in Tennessee, where my sister T had received a scholarship. Once T was settled in her new dorm, we continued on to San Angelo, Texas, where I would finish my college education thanks to a scholarship. I had never been to Texas before, but had always wanted to go there. I had been wanting to "get away" for a long long time. I was excited beyond words.

My dorm was still "under construction" when we got there, so I moved into a temporary dorm room. Mom, Dad, and M helped me get my stuff settled in then turned around and started driving back home.

And there I was. My dream had come true. I had finally "gotten away."

And within about an hour after they left, I was terrified. Sick with fear and dread. What was I doing? How was I going to function - everything was weird there. Brown and flat and ... weird. And huge: I'd gone from living near a town of 600 to living in a "city" of 80,000. I had a car (my lovely 1972 Dodge Dart) -- but had no idea where to go to find anything and was terrified of getting lost. (Alas, this was long before google maps and iPhone direction apps.)

The first two months there were the hardest two months of my life. Everything was different. The land, the weather, the people, even the language. Or at least it seemed that way to me. People talked with this accent such that I couldn't understand 60% of what they were saying, and I talked so fast they didn't understand what I was saying. And the food was weird. I understand that most kids gain weight when they go away to college. I lost at least 10-15 pounds in my first semester, because I couldn't get used to the weird food. I craved Mom's green beans, potatoes, and hamburger dinners. Anything simple. Anything from home.

I eventually acclimated and ended up spending eight years in Texas. I graduated with my elementary education degree and luckily found a job immediately up in Richardson, Texas. It was there that I met Karen, my "boss," who would become one of the most important people in my life -- with whom I learned so much about myself and my place in the world and how to live joyfully in my own skin. Alas, that's another story for another time. I share this only to say that I thought I knew why I was going to Texas when I applied to 20+ schools there. I was going to "get away" and see the big world "out there." It was only years later, that I figured out that I went to Texas to find Karen. I just didn't know it at the time.

~~~

This whole thing feels kind of like "going to Texas" -- on steroids. I'm so excited about this. It is such a great chance to expand our experiences and our world, to travel to places we've not yet had the chance to see, to immerse ourselves in another culture and experience the world "outside the bubble" of the US. It's a great career opportunity for my husband too.

I'm somewhat terrified too. Next week this time, assuming all goes well, we will be unpacking some suitcases in our new home, or out shopping for some basics. And life as I've known it will be ... very different. I will be the foreigner, the minority, the immigrant. I will not be able to read the dials on my washing machine or the microwave in my new home. I will not be able to communicate with my neighbors, or the grocer, or the waiter, or the doormen and receptionists at our apartment. I will not be able to read maps, menus, or ingredient listings on packages at the grocery store. I will not recognize many of the vegetables in the produce section. I will not know where to get my phone changed to the network in China, or how to explain what I need when I find where to go. I will not know how to get ... virtually anywhere -- or how to explain where I need to go. It's going to take some getting used to.

But I'm still taking this leap.

And some day -- maybe a year from now, maybe ten -- the real "whys" will make themselves known.

17 August 2013

Cat import papers - in process. Yes, this whole cat import process is, by far, the most complicated part of the entire move process. Seriously. There really is a lot more going on in this move than getting the cats there -- but getting the cats there is the hardest part.

First, cats must have received required shots more than 30 days, but less than 365 days, before travel. So, even though Majerle got his 3-year rabies shot August 10, 2012, he had to get another one in late June, because the last 3-year shot was given (barely) more than a year before.

Second, not more than 10 days before travel, we have to get checkups and health certificates for Gracie and Majerle, which then must be mailed to the local USDA office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who will officially endorse the certificates and mail them back ... hopefully in time for the trip. The paperwork must be filled out "just so" (in blue ink) or there is a real risk of problems. And finding out, once cats are in Hong Kong, that there's a problem with the paperwork would ... be a very bad thing.

So - on Wednesday, Gracie and Majerle got to try out their crates for our trip to the vet to get the exam and health certificate documents. The good news: Gracie will, eventually, stop meowing when riding in a car. I wasn't sure, so decided to leave early and just ride and ride to see what happens. I learned that it takes about 15 minutes for her howls to wind down to whimpers ... then, so long as you keep moving, the whimpers get fewer and fewer. Right up until you hit a red light and need to stop. Then the howling starts all over. (Majerle, of course, just sits there quietly - looking very aggravated-ly from her to me with a "make her shut up!!" look on his face.) The 6 hour trip to LA is going to be ... interesting. But that's another story.

Anyway, while neither cat likes to be crated, the "good" thing was that, once we got to the vet where there were other critters and lots of people, they were just fine staying in their crates, thank you very much. Which was a good thing, because the process took quite a while. Our absolutely wonderful vets at Dear Creek Animal Hospital, particularly Dr. Beth Robbins, spent quite some time on Wednesday doing the health exam and getting all the required papers filled out exactly right (any errors and you need to start all over, so it was an adventure). We faxed them over to Tobi to confirm everything was good and, once confirmed, we were done. (Thank goodness for PetRelocation,who has this process down to a science.) Well, except we needed one more original signature on a document - which had to be from a vet who wasn't in on Wednesday, so we'd have to wait until Thursday to get that doc.

Gracie and Majerle at the vet.

On Thursday, I got the final document and emailed to Tobi to make sure all was right -- and once approved, sent the package off.

And, fortunately, it arrived in New Mexico right on time today.

So, now, I'm tracking the next label, to confirm when USDA sends it back out. Fingers crossed that it will get to LA on time. I'm very much looking forward to getting this process done.... ! I don't think I'll be able to really relax about this until I've picked them up at the Shanghai airport ... Tuesday, August 27 if all goes well.

And, once they're there safe and sound, the rest is all ... gravy. Of course, I'll be hoping our air and sea shipments get through customs and all that. But really -- that's just "stuff." Once Jeff and I -- and the kitties -- are back together in Shanghai, I'll just be very very happy.

08 August 2013

While all the full nitty gritty details of their travel itinerary are still being finalized but, essentially, here's the plan.

First, we will drive them from Phoenix to Los Angeles - because it's just too hot in Phoenix for them to travel from here to LA via plane. (Certain restrictions prevent us from carrying them on the flight, so they would be in cargo). So ... yep, that's gonna be a great eight-hour trip, given that Gracie starts howling soon as I put her in the little carrier (or the big crate), then really starts howling once I pick her up and put her in the car -- just to go to the vet. Gonna. Be. Awesome. (not.) I have to remind myself that a couple days will be just plain yukky, but it's much better than the alternative. Anyway ...

The next morning, the PetRelocation agent will meet up with us the next morning and handle their check in. They will not be going on our flight. Because if they do -- if they were to fly with us straight to Shanghai -- they would have to go into quarantine for thirty (30!) days. And we couldn't visit them during that time. Instead, they will basically travel three quarters of the way around the world to avoid that whole process. They will fly out of LAX to Amsterdam via KLM Airlines. (I've never been there, though that was the country where J's last ex pat assignment a couple decades ago...)

In Amsterdam, they'll stay in the KLM Animal Hotel. Yes, that's what it's called. And they even have a video of it!

After a stint at the hotel, they'll travel to Hong Kong (via KLM) and have another sleep over with the PetRelocation agents there. Then, they'll arrive in Shanghai -- just a couple days after we will. And I'll be standing at the gate waiting for them :).

07 August 2013

So. I think it's clear how happy I am that Majerle and Gracie are coming with us.

But, I haven't said a peep about Mocha.

What gives?

Well, I don't really want to talk about it - because it pretty much sucks. But, if I'm going to write about this experience, I need to write about Mocha too. So. Ugh.

The facts:

1. China regulations permit only "one pet per passport."

2. We have two passports.

3. We have three pets: Two indoor cats and one outdoor dog.

The options:

1. Decline the job/life opportunity because it requires us to leave one pet behind.

2. Find a way to "smuggle" one pet in in violation of the rules.

3. Draw straws to see which two go.

4. Come up with various rationales why it'd be "better" for one to stay over the other two. For example, apply the seniority rule: first in, last out. Take the first two pets we adopted, find a loving home for the last one we adopted.

5. Sob incessently for hours (and hours) thinking about how Options 1-4 are really horrible horrible options and just refuse to make the decision because it's an utterly impossible decision to make.

The .....resolution:

I was stuck between 4 and 5. For a while. Then something happened which made the whole situation .. tolerable. Or as tolerable as it can be. I can't say it's awesome - because Mocha is a wonderful wonderful dog and we both love her very much. She's very much J's dog, but she loves me too -- and is just the most easy-going dog I've ever known.

Then Mocha's "aunt" -- the woman who takes care of her all the time when we travel now -- asked me whether we would allow Mocha to stay with her while we were gone. I won't share all the details of that situation for privacy reasons. But -- she truly loves Mocha and we know that Mocha just loves her. And for a variety of reasons, the "timing" of this all was such that it would just ... work out.

NO, it's not "perfect" -- or anywhere near that -- that we won't have Mocha with us. It's actually .. basically awful and everytime I think about it (like now) I just get all upset and ... i'm not a pretty cryer.

But it's pretty amazing that before we could even ask, the one other person in the world who is with Mocha weekly and loves her actually asked whether we'd be willing to allow Mocha to live with her. (And that's exactly what she asked me.)

So, that's the resolution. Don't like to talk about it. Don't want to talk about it. But ... can't pretend that it's not happening. And, as the days here with her wind down, it only gets worse. I am comforted knowing where she will be and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will be happy and loved. But we will miss her terribly. And I can rationalize that it'd be hard for her there since she's been an outdoor dog for eight years, who would be stuck in a high rise all day except for walks .. and all that. But -- that all sounds weak even as I say it. It just ... sucks! I can't find another more appropriate word. And I honestly don't know what we would have done -- how we would have resolved the "one pet per passport issue" -- had it not worked out the way it did. But -- it still sucks. It's the one and -- to date -- ONLY awful aspect of the ... whole deal, but it's pretty daggone awful. Tolerable only because I know where she'll be and that she'll be ok and loved and happy. And because she was wanted by her "aunt" so much so that I didn't even have to ask.

Ok. I "came clean." Not that it makes me feel one iota better to have done so. But. Still. There it is.

When you're just a bit worried about exceeding baggage allowances, finding out that one of your big suitcases weighs 15.2 pounds - empty - is just a little disconcerting. (I must say though that the EatSmart Precision Voyager Digital Luggage Scale is a really cool little toyol. )

Now, just for context, let me start out by saying that normally the airlines' maximum weight and baggage rules do not concern me because we rarely have to worry about exceeding the weight or number of bag limits. For one, Southwest Airlines has a generous baggage allowance. (I love Southwest.) And J gets an extra baggage allowance when we fly US Airways thanks to all the his travel, so if we have one extra bag -- or extra heavy bag full of ski or scuba stuff -- it's still not an issue.

And, most of the time, we each only travel with a carry-on in any event. And, admittedly, we do have a pretty generous baggage allowance on the final move flight: I can check one 50 pound bag, and J can check three 70 pound bags -- for no additional fee.

Yet, I've been trying to figure out how to maximize our allowance and am not sure we're going to be able to avoid an extra baggage fee.

Because, this trip is ... well ... different.

For one, there were so many restrictions on what we could pack in our sea shipment and air shipment that we'll have a few bags, and a couple of those will be heavy. For example, we could not include any pastes - such as antiperspirant - in our shipments. (Nor could we include any liquids like shampoo, etc.) Now, that wouldn't be a big deal -- we can get many toiletries over there. Go native, and all that. Except that it's virtually impossible to get the type of antiperspirant we in the USA like (need) to use in Shanghai. I know this from scouring multiple multiple stores for several hours during our last trip. The only types of deodorant I could find were (a) spray deodorant and (b) the old/vintage style roll-on type that I remember my parents using ... in the 70s. And it was deodorant -- not antiperspirant. Apparently, it's only expats who sweat like crazy in the humid Shanghai weather. And that's just one example of things I couldn't find and/or don't expect to be able to find there that I (think I) will need. So, we're packing that kind of stuff.

For another, it's not at all clear when we will get our air and sea shipments once we're over there - even though I scheduled the pack/shipment of all that stuff more than a month before we leave. We could get one or both of them within two weeks after we arrive -- or two months. So, I compromised when packing and held back enough clothes and that sort of stuff to last for a month (with a couple laundry days of course).

Then there's the cats. They'll travel with us to LAX via car, then via air on their own (more on that later). However, I need to transport them to vet a least once or twice more here -- then, when they get to Shanghai, we'll need to transfer them to smaller carriers. So, I couldn't send those with shipment and have to haul them with us as well. And, there's the fact -- according to friends living there now -- that one can go for weeks without being able to find cat litter in any store. So. Yep. Need to pack some litter too.

So, my first step in "planning the final pack" was to weigh all available suitcases empty. And the good news is that three of the wheeled ones we have are under ten pounds. Except for the first one I weighed, which really was 15.2 pounds empty. (That suitcase is staying here. Maybe when we come back, I'll find a way to use it as a piece of furniture, because it's now virtually useless as an air travel luggage option. It's a pretty red. I'm sure I'll find a use for it.....)

My second step was filling one of the wheeled duffles to see how much I could fit in it ... and not go over the 70 pound limit ... and make sure things were wrapped/protected enough that the chances of leaking or breaking were minimal.

So I first used a bunch of those "air packs" that come in, for example, Amazon packages on bottom, top and sides of the suitcase. (Yes. I am my mother's daughter and have been keeping them for a couple months, sure that I'd find a use for them...) Then I put liquid stuff in hefty zip freezer bags -- then wrapped with another bag just in case the one bag broke. (Did I admit that I am my mother's daughter yet?)

Then, when it was as full as I thought I could get reasonably get it, I closed it up and weighed it:

02 August 2013

I have gone back and forth and back and forth about whether and, if so, which shots to get before going to China.

I honestly think nothing would be necessary just to live in Shanghai.

But ... I'm married to an adventurer. I know we'll be spending weekends exploring places elsewhere. (We already have our first dive trip - to Borocay, Philippines - planned, but that's another story.)

If I were to follow the CDC guidelines, I'd be getting lots of shots. If I were to follow the advice of some ex pats there now, I'd not get any.

A few weeks ago, I talked to the folks in my doctor's office. They weren't sure what shots they even had to give and encouraged me to go to a travel doctor. So, I called my insurance carrier for help in finding a travel doctor in network.

Well, I was informed that travel doctors - and travel immunizations - aren't covered by insurance. However, they referred me to an infectious disease control doctor at the Mayo Clinic and explained that several (but not all) of the CDC-recommended shots could be provided (and covered) based on just living in Arizona. I just needed the Doctor to recommend them. For sure, Hep A, Hep B, Tetanus, and polio update would be covered.

Hmmm.

Well, called that doctor and he didn't provide shots, but the Mayo clinic could refer me to their travel doctor(s).

Hmmm.

So I did a bit more research, then just called up my Primary Care Physician again last Friday and asked for an appointment to get some immunizations. I listed the ones I thought I needed, to make sure they were in stock -- because when I'd called a month prior, they didn't have all in stock.

Surprisingly for this practice, they gave me a Monday morning appointment. And, on Monday I met with a very helpful nurse practitioner and talked things through -- including whether she thought I should bite the bullet and go get more shots that they couldn't give from a travel doctor.

She recommended I get only two: Hep A and tetanus. So, that's what I got. One in each arm. When the shot-giver (she had a fancier title, of course) came in, she asked me which one I wanted where :)

Two days later, I don't think it made a difference. Both arms were very sore yesterday, and both arms are just a little sore today.

I just hope I made the right decision. (And that I'll remember to get the Hep A booster in 6 months....)

But I have to say that the discussion with my insurance carrier was ... unsettling. Essentially I was told that if I say I want the shots because I'm moving to China, cost of the shots are not covered. However, if I say I want the shots because I live in Phoenix -- i.e., as a general health care precaution like the flu shot, the cost is covered.

When I asked, "Ok, so if I say I want the shots as a general precaution and because I'm moving to China, will that be covered?" -- the response was that so long as I say I want the shots as a general precaution, they would be covered.

I shared this experience with a friend who is just getting initiated into the world of medicare. Her response was interesting (quoted with permission):

I had my first interaction with Medicare and I wasn't
terribly impressed. I spent weeks looking for a new "GP" doctor
(mine was in DC and I want someone closer to home) and everyone I called
refused to see new Medicare patients. I finally found an older doctor, so
I'll eventually have to find another when she retires. The younger docs
are refusing Medicare patients. Anyway, I went for the "Welcome to
Medicare Preventative Visit" to which all new Medicare recipients are
entitled during the first 12 months of coverage. The webpage says that
the doctor will do a variety of things ... including send you for tests.
So, I went to the doctor and she sent me for mammogram and blood/urine
tests.

A month later, I get a bill from the lab for over $800 because
Medicare refused to pay for the analyses of my blood and urine. They paid
the doctor to prescribe the tests. They paid the lab to draw my blood.
And they paid the doctor for a second visit to discuss with me the
results of my blood and urine analyses. But they wouldn't pay for the
analyses themselves! (I assumed Medicare pays for "blood
letting" since they pay for drawing the blood, but not analyzing it.
I wondered if they would have paid to have leeches applied.)

[I]t was explained to me that the doctor requested
"routine" blood/urine analyses when she should have coded the request
for a particular "condition." I said, "I don't have a
condition. These tests were totally routine." It was explained
to me that while I do not have to actually have a "condition" to have
the analyses covered (this is, after all, a "preventative" visit),
the doctor still has to code for a "condition" because Medicare only
pays for "medically necessary" tests/analyses, not routine. I
couldn't believe what I was being told BY MEDICARE. It sounded like
Medicare fraud! But this is the way Medicare works!